Nasopharyngeal Cancer (cont.)
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery)
and treatment options.
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the
following:
- The stage of the cancer (whether it affects part of the nasopharynx, involves
the whole nasopharynx, or has spread to other places in the body).
- The type of
nasopharyngeal cancer.
- The size of the tumor.
- The patient's age and general
health.
After nasopharyngeal cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if
cancer cells have spread within the nasopharynx or to other parts of the body.
The process used to find out whether cancer has spread within the nasopharynx
or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from
the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know
the stage in order to plan treatment. The results of the tests used to diagnose
nasopharyngeal cancer are often also used to stage the disease.
The following stages are used for nasopharyngeal cancer:
Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)
In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the lining of the nasopharynx. These
abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0
is also called carcinoma in situ.
Stage I
In stage I, cancer has formed and is found in the nasopharynx only.
Stage II
Stage II nasopharyngeal cancer is divided into stage IIA and stage IIB as
follows:
- Stage IIA: Cancer has spread from the nasopharynx to the oropharynx (the
middle part of the throat that includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue,
and the tonsils), and/or to the nasal cavity.
- Stage IIB: Cancer is found in the
nasopharynx and has spread to lymph nodes on one side of the neck, or has spread
to the area surrounding the nasopharynx and may have spread to lymph nodes on
one side of the neck. The involved lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller.
Stage III
In stage III nasopharyngeal cancer, the cancer:
- is found in the nasopharynx and has spread to lymph nodes on both sides of
the neck and the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller; or
- has spread into
the soft tissues (oropharynx and/or nasal cavity) and to lymph nodes on both
sides of the neck and the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller; or
- has
spread beyond the soft tissues into areas around the pharynx and to lymph nodes
on both sides of the neck and the lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller; or
- has spread to nearby bones or sinuses and may have spread to lymph nodes on one
or both sides of the neck and the involved lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or
smaller.
Stage IV
Stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer is divided into stage IVA, stage IVB, and
stage IVC as follows:
- Stage IVA: Cancer has spread beyond the nasopharynx and may have spread to
the cranial nerves, the hypopharynx (bottom part of the throat), areas in and
around the side of the skull or jawbone, and/or the bone around the eye. Cancer
may also have spread to lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck, and the
involved lymph nodes are 6 centimeters or smaller.
- Stage IVB: Cancer has spread
to lymph nodes above the collarbone and/or the involved lymph nodes are larger
than 6 centimeters.
- Stage IVC: Cancer has spread beyond nearby lymph nodes to
other parts of the body.
Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer is cancer that has recurred (come back) after
it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the nasopharynx or in other
parts of the body.
Next: What is the treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer? »
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